I was fortunate enough to pick up that Matchless G3LS from the 91 year old gentleman who was selling it. As a younger man he would use it to ride around his farm in Maine and was so sorry to see it go. It had not been started in over 35 years. I've since rebuilt the magneto, dyno, carb, horn, fixed the speedo, put on new Dunlops and am getting ready to rewire. Bike runs great and I hope to have it on the road shortly. So lucky that this bike was unmolested and with all its parts.
From what I understand, it came to the USA in the hold of a cargo ship in the 60's between layers of old tires with some other bikes; an Ariel, being one of them. I'm just starting to do some research now, so anything anyone can tell me about the registration, or of the AFS would be appreciated. Best I've been able to gather so far is that this a cold war machine and would have been used by dispachers, in the event of a nuke drop in the UK. Hard time picturing that. I'd love to know where it spent it's youth.
Top of the tank has a large AFS logo, and the side reads Mobil Fire Column.
It will now spend it's life running up and down the back roads of Cape Cod with gentle care.
-Brett
